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pursuits of modem society； and he lives like a butterfly； as
thoughtless as if there were no such thing as death； or judgment； or
eternity。 Oh； no： Festus is not the man to read this paper！
But is a man like Festus in a hopeless condition； and beyond the reach
of mercy？ No； indeed！ I thank God he is not。 He has yet got a
conscience at the bottom of his character； which； however much seared；
is not quite dead；a conscience which； like the great bell of St。
Paul's at midnight； when the roar of city business is over； will
sometimes make itself heard。 Like Felix； and Herod； and Ahab； and
Pharaoh； the followers of Festus have their times of visitation； and；
unlike them； they sometimes awake before it is too late； and bee
different men。 There are seasons in their lives when they are driven in
upon themselves； and feel 〃the powers of the world to e；〃 and find
that mortal man cannot get on without God。 Sickness； and solitude； and
disappointments； and losses of money； and deaths of loved ones； can
sometimes make the proudest hearts bow down； and confess that the
〃grasshopper is a burden。〃 Manasseh is not the only one who 〃in time of
affliction〃 turned to God； and began to pray。 Yes！ I have long felt
that we must never despair of any one。 The age of spiritual miracles is
not past。 With Christ and the Holy Ghost nothing is impossible。 The
last day will show that there were some who began with Festus and were
like him； but at last turned round； repented； and ended with St。 Paul。
While there is life we must hope； and pray for others。
II。 Let us now turn to a very different picture。 Let us look at King
Agrippa。 This is the man who was so much struck by St。 Paul's address
that he said； 〃Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian。〃
〃Almost。〃 Let me dwell for a moment on that expression。 I am well aware
that many think our Authorized English Version of the Bible is in fault
here； and fails to give the true meaning of the original Greek。 They
assert that the phrase would be more correctly rendered； 〃In a short
time；〃 or 〃with weak and feeble argument thou art persuading me。〃 I am
bold to say that I cannot accept the view of these critics； though I
admit that the phrase is rather obscure。 But in questions like these I
dare not call any man master。 I hold with several excellent
mentators； both ancient and modern； ＇11＇ that the translation given
in our Authorized Version is right and correct。 I am fortified in my
belief by the fact that this is the view of one who thought； and spoke；
and wrote in the language of the New TestamentI mean the famous Greek
Father Chrysostom。 And last； but not least； no other view appears to me
to harmonize with the exclamation of the Apostle St。 Paul in the verse
which follows。 〃Almost！〃 he seems to say； taking up Agrippa's words。 〃I
want thee to be not almost； but altogether a Christian。〃 On these
grounds I stand by our Old Version。
Agrippa； whose picture now demands our attention； was in many respects
very unlike Festus。 Of Jewish extraction； and brought up among Jews； if
not of pure Jewish blood； he was thoroughly familiar with many things
of which the Roman governor was utterly ignorant。 He knew and 〃believed
the prophets。〃 He must have understood many things in St。 Paul's
address； which were mere 〃words and names〃 and raving fancies to his
panion in the place of hearing。 He had a secret inward conviction
that the man before him had truth on his side。 He saw； and felt； and
was moved； and affected； and conscience…stricken； and had inward wishes
and longing desires。 But he could get no further。 He saw； but he had
not courage to act。 He felt； but he had not the will to move。 He was
not far from the kingdom of God； but he halted outside。 He neither
condemned nor ridiculed Christianity； but； like a man who is paralyzed；
he could only look at it and examine it； and had not strength of mind
to lay hold on it and receive it into his heart。
Now； are there many professing Christians like Agrippa？ I fear there is
only one answer to that question。 They are an exceeding great army； a
multitude which it is difficult to number。 They are to be found in our
churches； and are pretty regular attendants on all means of grace。 They
have no doubt of the truth of the Bible。 They have not the slightest
objection to the doctrines of the gospel。 They know the difference
between sound and unsound teaching。 They admire the lives of holy
people。 They read good books； and give money to good objects。 But；
unhappily； they never seem to get beyond a certain point in their
religion。 They never e out boldly on Christ's side； never take up
the cross； never confess Christ before men； never give up petty
inconsistencies。 They often tell you that they 〃mean； and intend； and
hope； and purpose〃 some day to be more decided Christians。 They know
they are not quite what they ought to be at present； and they hope one
day to be different。 But the 〃convenient season〃 never seems to e。
Meaning and intending they go on； and meaning and intending they go off
the stage。 Meaning and intending they live； and meaning and intending；
too oft； they die；kind； good…natured； respectable people； not
enemies； but friends to St。 Paul； but； like Agrippa； 〃almost
Christians。〃
How is it； you may well ask； that men can go so far in religion； and
yet go no further？ How is it that they can see so much； and know so
much； and yet not follow the light they have to the 〃perfect day〃？ How
is it that intellect and reason and conscience can make such progress
towards Christianity； and yet heart and will can lag behind？
The answers to these questions are soon given。 The fear of man keeps
back some。 They have a cowardly dread of being laughed at； mocked； and
despised； if they bee decided Christians。 They dare not risk the
loss of man's good opinion。 Like many of the Jewish rulers in our
Lord's time； they 〃love the praise of men more than the praise of God〃
（John 12：43）。 The love of the world keeps back others。 They know that
decided religion entails separation from some of the fashionable
amusements and modes of spending time； which are mon in the world。
They cannot make up their minds to this separation。 They shrink from
their baptismal vow to 〃renounce the pomps and vanities of this world。〃
Like Lot's wife； they would like to be delivered from the wrath of God；
but； like her； they must 〃look back〃 （Gen。 19：26）。 A certain subtle
form of self…righteousness keeps back many。 They take fort in the
secret thought that； at any rate； they are not so bad as Festus。 They
are not like some people they know： they do not despise religion。 They
go to church。 They admire earnest men like St。 Paul Surely they will
not be lost on account of a few inconsistencies！The morbid dread of
being party…spirited keeps back many； and especially young men。 They
are oppressed with the idea that they cannot take a decided line in
religion without mitting themselves to some particular 〃school of
thought。〃 This is what they do not want to do。 They forget that the
case of AgripPsalms is not one of doctrine； but of conduct； and that
decided action about duty is the surest way to obtain light about
doctrinal truth。 〃 If any man will do God's will； he shall know of the
doctrine〃 （John 7：17）。 Some secret sin； I fear； keeps back not a few。
They know in their own hearts that they are clinging to something which
is wrong in God's sight。 There is an Herodias； or a Drusilla； or a
Bernice； or an Achan's wedge of gold somewhere； in their private
history； which will not bear the light of day。 They cannot part with
this darling。 They cannot cut off the right hand； or pluck out the
right eye； and so they cannot bee disciples。 Alas！ for these
excuses。 Weighed in the balance； they are worthless and vain。 Alas！ for
those who rest in them。 Except they awake； and cast off their chains；
they will make shipwreck for ever。
Is AgripPsalms reading this paper to…day？ Are there any like him whose
eyes are on this page？ Take a kindly warning from a minister of Christ；
and try to realize that you are in a very dangerous position。 Wishing；
and feeling； and meaning； and intending； do not make up saving
religion。 They are but painted corks； which may enable you to float on
the surface for a time； and keep your head above water； but they will
not prevent you being carried down the stream； and being at last swept
over a worse fall than that of Niagara And； after all； you are not
happy。 You know too much of religion to be happy in the world： you are
too much mixed up with the world to get any fort from your religion。
In short； you are neither happy in the world nor out of the world。
Awake to a sense of your danger and your folly。 Resolve by God's help
to bee decided。 Draw the sword； and cast away the scabbard。 〃If you
have no sword； sell